Obs. rare. [perh. identical with BELFRY, OF. bercfrit; the sense of a framework of wooden beams may have passed into that of a single beam in such a framework.] (See quot.)
[1676. Félibien, Princ. Archit., 492. Befray ou Befroy, c’est la charpenterie qui soutient les cloches dans une tour.]
1639. Horn & Robotham, Gate Lang. Unl., xlix. § 545. The tiles, gutter-tiles or slates, on rafters … baufries and spars.
1693. W. Robertson, Phraseol. Gen., 216. A baufrey, lignum, trabs.
1830. R. Stuart, Dict. Archit., Baufrey, an old word for beam.
